At the Ranger station where our morning began, I initially declined the assistance of any of the dozens of young men waiting nearby. All I had in my backpack was my camera and water bottles. Our local guide convinced me that hiring a porter went far to help support the local economy, jobs are scarce, and it was only $15.00 for the entire day, the standard rate charged by all porters. So Medi, a local teenager, became my companion as we trekked.
It soon became apparent that Medi, was going to do a lot more than carry my pack. As we followed the gorillas through the jungle, we frequently had to cross mud beds, sinking almost to our ankles, then slowly breaking the suction holding our Wellington Boots from taking the next step. Medi was always there with a helping hand, over a fallen tree, across a slippery stream, or just helping to pull me through the restraining muck.
We eventually arrived back where we had parked our Land Cruiser, mosquito bitten, slightly dehydrated, clothing completely saturated, faces streaked with dried salt, and thoroughly and totally exhausted. It was then Medi shyly and politely asked if we could drop him at his parent’s subsistence farm, as he had many chores yet to finish before sunset.
Of course I agreed, but I was astounded to find out that we had travelled 12 miles before we arrived. He explained that he walks about 3 hours every day to the trail head at the Ranger station, hoping for a job as a porter. Many days there is no work. On those occasions, or if his customer has a full vehicle, he walks back home.
Medi didn’t long for the same things the average American teenager wants. He only wanted the chance to work every day.
It didn’t take too long to realize that a bike could save him four hours a day, time he could devote to helping his parents plow their fields by hand, sow, tend, and harvest the crops that are their main source of food. With a bike, Medi could travel further in search of work, and add countless hours to his productivity with the time he would save. But of course, this could only be a dream for him. His pay barely covers his absolute necessities. A bike would mean saving his entire pay without speniding a cent for almost 3 months. Impossible.
One $125 bike. That is all it would take.
His story is just one of dozens I heard from these hard working people of all ages, just about able to afford food and essential clothing, walking miles to their jobs over the unpaved roads of rural Uganda. Their children routinely walk up to eight miles daily, in the back and forth to attend school.
What about a bike? It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? One hundred twenty five dollars, a sum so many of us take for granted, can bring life altering improvement to a hard working family, or save a primary school child four hours of walking a day. This is time and energy that could be devoted to supporting the family farm, learning to read better, or being able to travel farther to find a job, or a better job. This can make a permanent increase in that entire family’s standard of living.
Purchase a bike now or make a donation!
As we listened to his story, my wife and I had same immediate thought. We could afford to change his life, and it wouldn’t mean any real change in our lives. But what if we created a small non profit foundation that could raise donations and use the money to distribute bikes to this area. We could change many lives.
My wife and I were both proud and pleased that the first bicycle presented under the Wheels and Water bike program went to Medi, following our own personal donation to our foundation. You can share this one to one help relationship, and you can also change a life forever.
Medi’s letter of Thanks
Email from Medard
Hullo ma friend, sorry 4 taking long time without communicating 2 u. The person i alternate with at ma work place had gon 4 his leave, so i couldnt leave the unit alone. After getting de fon number of denis i comunicated 2 him & agreed on de time 2 collect de bike & i went there, i found when he had bought a HERO type bicycle. I appreciated & thanx u very much. It wil be helping me from ma home 2 my work place.
Medi, proudly recieving his brand new bike
In 2009, i went 4 certificate in guidence and counselling, after completion of my corse i went bac 2 nkuringo where i used 2 be before. I found my vacancy was replaced, so iwent 2 volunteer in ahealth unit counseling patients aiming 2 get ajob there. unfortunatly the time for recruitment de priority was 4 health workers, and i was not ahealth worker. And later i was selected as security guard 4 de health unit where i used 2 volunteer, but if i hapen 2 get an altertnative i can leave dat job. When u come 2 uganda i would like u 2 look at the bicycle that was bought 2 me. In case of any urgent information obed can deliver it 2me very quickly coz he’s ever on network, concerned and aresponsibe guy. We hope to keep our friendship. Yours, Beyongyera medard (medi).
Help us continue this person to person effort. If you can’t donate the entire cost of a bike, your gift will be combined with others to bring cheap, reliable, and much needed source of transportation to needy and deserving individuals.